What to add to the soil for seedlings: preparing the mixture yourself

Vegetable growers often try to save money on buying potting soil for seedlings. There is nothing wrong with this if you prepare the soil properly.

They say that garden soil is not suitable for sowing seeds. It may be depleted, infested with pests or pathogens.

Anastasia Kovrizhnykh , an expert of the online publication "BelNovosti", an agronomist and landscape designer, told how to prepare the soil for sowing seeds for seedlings.

Which soil is better?

It doesn’t matter whether the soil was purchased in a store or from personal supplies.

The main thing is that the soil is loose and light. Then it will let air through well, absorb moisture, and the shoots will sprout faster.

At the same time, it must be rich in nutrients.

Disinfecting the soil

Garden soil without disinfection is not suitable for sowing seeds.

Therefore, it is heated in the oven or special solutions are added. The main thing is to remember about the beneficial soil microflora, which should not die.

Therefore, it is better to warm the soil in the oven:

• at a temperature of 70-90 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes;
• layer 3-5 cm;
• after preliminary moistening from a spray bottle.

Use the soil after it has completely cooled.

What to add to the soil

This is another important point.

Add 1 cup of sand to the garden soil for every 5 liters. You can also add coconut substrate (200 g for the same volume).

The mixture will be loose, light and will not stick together after watering.

Finally, you need to add azophoska at a rate of 2 teaspoons of fertilizer per 5 liters of the finished mixture.